By OkayGoal
Here’s a look at some stats and minutiae following Week 23 of the 2026 NWSL season. We’ll keep evolving this space every week to try and keep you informed. Have an idea or an addition? Hit me @thedanlauletta on Bsky or X.
Before we get into it, here is a look at how the table looks. Note that Gotham has clinched a playoff berth and the Chicago Stars, Racing Louisville, Boston Legacy, and Bay FC have been eliminated.
All statistics reference regular season games only except where noted.
PLAYER STATS
-Ashley Sanchez hit a penalty on Sunday and tied Temwa Chawinga’s 2024 record for most goals in an NWSL season with 20. Sanchez reached 20 in her 26th game which was the length of the season in 2024. She has four games to break the record. Barbra Banda remains second in the Golden Boot race with 16.
-Kaleigh Kurtz has now played 140 consecutive regular season matches and 12,562 consecutive minutes (we shorted her one game and 90 minutes last week). Both are league records. The streaks began June 26, 2021, while playing for the Courage. (The unrounded number is due to a rain-shortened match in 2023.)
-Two players made NWSL debuts over the weekend. Barbara Bonansea played nine minutes for the Wave in relief of Gia Corley. The 35-year-old joined after a lengthy career at Juventus. For the Spirit, 21-year-old Clara Luvanga became the first Tanzanian player in the NWSL when she subbed in for Rose Kouassi in the 66th minute.
-Cloé Lacasse scored her 8th of the season for the Royals and remains the closest to a 10/10 season with 8 goals and 10 assists. The others all stood pat. Pietra Tordin has 7G/9A and Trinity Rodman has 11G/7A.
-Jess Fishlock’s brace on Friday made her the oldest player in NWSL history to score multiple goals in a game. She bested her old Cascadia rival Christine Sinclair of the Thorns from that perch.
TEAM STATS
-Kate Del Fava remains minute-perfect for the Royals having played all 7,020 over 78 games since the team launched in 2024. Those are the longest streaks from the start of any expansion team.
-Racing Louisville, Boston Legacy FC and Bay FC have joined the Chicago Stars in not qualifying for this year’s playoffs. Louisville missed for the fourth time in five seasons, the exception being last year. Bay FC missed for the second straight year after getting there in their debut season, 2024. This is the Legacy’s first season in NWSL.
-The Reign win over the Legacy was the club’s 150th across all competitions. It was their 133rd regular season win (82nd at home vs 51 away). They also have four playoff wins, 11 in the Challenge Cup and one each in the Summer Cup and Fall Series.
-Some clarification on last week’s mention of the Spirit’s 50th away win. On May 26, 2021, the Spirit’s match scheduled for Segra Field was moved to Houston due to amenity issues at Segra. Although this game, a Spirit win, was clearly an away match, NWSL currently considers it a home match for the Spirit. Thus NWSL records still show the Spirit with 49 away wins.
-Racing Louisville broke their club record losing streak with a 6th straight setback. The previous record of five in a row was set this season. Louisville also won four straight for the first time this season..